Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 29: Backstabbing

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From the shrouded mist, a shadow detached itself from the veil of trees. Four glowing amber eyes pierced through the gloom, and a low rumble shook the ground. Then, like a phantom given flesh, it stepped forward, its muscles rippling beneath a coat of black and silver fur. Bone-like spines jutted from its shoulders and back, its long limbs ending in claws capable of tearing through stone.

The Twin-Fanged Ravager had arrived. The sky above the Dark Ravine dimmed to a dusky violet as Kai stood, bloodied and breathless, his exoskeleton cracked along his right flank. His system's constant stream of notifications blurred into the background, drowned by the pounding of his heart and the thunderous footfalls of the colossal.

The Shadow Spine Lurker hissed with renewed fury, its eyes burning with primal vengeance as it prowled low across the clearing. Kai watched it carefully, his antennae twitching, trying to predict its next move. A guttural roar tore through the fog.

It was a deep, savage sound that vibrated through the rocks, through Kai's bones, through the very air around them. Every ant in the hunting party froze. The Lurker turned its head sharply, eyes narrowing.

From the shadows of the ravine mist, something enormous stirred.

[DING! New Threat arrived: Twin-Fanged Ravager.

Tier: 3-Star Rank.

Status: Aggressive.

Warning: Engaged in predator dominance behavior. ]

It leapt onto the battlefield with the fluid grace of a beast born to rule the area. Tall as ten soldier ants stacked atop each other, its body rippled with muscle and fur. The Shadow Spine Lurker let out a rattling shriek of defiance.

For a breathless moment, the two predators faced off, their immense bodies still, yet brimming with lethal tension.

Vice Captain Vex didn't hesitate. He turned to his team, barking, "New target on the field! Retreat! now!"

The soldiers snapped into motion.

Kai stumbled, his fractured side searing with pain as he pushed himself to move.

Vex's eyes locked onto him. For a split second, Kai saw something cold and calculating behind that gaze. Vex's lips curled.

"You're slowing us down," he said.

Kai's breath caught.

Before he could react, Vex spun, his aura flaring violently. He struck Kai with a backhanded blow so fast and precise it sent the injured Kai flying into a boulder with a dull crunch.

[System Alert: Severe Damage Sustained, Internal Bleeding Detected

HP: 520/1000 Fracture Body.

Movement Restricted]

Kai gasped, trying to suck in air through clenched mandibles.

Vex didn't wait to see if he'd recover.

"Dead weight," the Vice Captain muttered as he turned and sprinted with the others, vanishing into the veil of mist.

Kai lay stunned. The world swam with pain and betrayal.

He wasn't shocked by Vex's cruelty. But he had hoped, even in this cold, ruthless society that his efforts might've earned him something. Anything.

But no. The colony had always seen him as lesser. A one-star fluke, a lowly worker Ant.

He would not die here.

With sheer force of will, Kai crawled, dragging his body across the mossy stone. The growls of the Ravager and the clicks of the Lurker clashed behind him. He reached the base of a giant tree whose roots clawed into the ground like talons. Between two thick roots was a hollow trunk, dark and damp. Without hesitation, Kai rolled himself inside.

The inside of the trunk was barely wide enough to contain him. He curled in tightly, ignoring the bark cutting into his wounds.

Outside, the two monsters erupted into violence. The Ravager struck first. It moved like black lightning, slamming into the Lurker with bone-crunching force.

The smaller predator reeled but retaliated instantly, its spined tail lashing across the Ravager's face, leaving a trail of glowing blue blood. The Ravager snarled, its dual fangs gleaming as it leapt again.

Each collision sent shockwaves through the earth. Trees groaned, roots snapped. The Ravine trembled beneath their primal struggle.

From the hollow, Kai watched through a crack in the bark, his breathing shallow.

[DING! Passive Observation Engaged. Predator Analysis Progress: 7%... 8%...]

He stared, not just in awe but in focus. This was more than survival now. This was a lesson in dominance. A lesson in power.

The Lurker moved with unpredictable speed, using its long limbs to strike from odd angles. But the Ravager was a brute force incarnate. Every step it took shook the ground. Every strike carried the weight of an avalanche.

The two beasts clashed again and again, snarling, screeching, bleeding.

Kai bit back a groan as another throb of pain reminded him of his broken ribs. He couldn't interfere. Not now. But he could learn. He could survive.

And next time, he'd be ready.

A loud crash echoed through the clearing as the Ravager slammed the Lurker into the cliff wall. Dust and moss rained down, and the echo of the impact sent flocks of birds scattering from the canopy above.

Kai ducked lower into his shelter as debris rained past. He whispered to himself, "You can't die here. Not like this."

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Then something worse hit him.

His aura reserve, already diminished, was bleeding out. The damage from the fracture was destabilizing his inner flow.

[Warning! Aura Leakage Detected. Stabilization Required. Use Aura Core Binding or Suffer Unconsciousness in 2 minutes.]

He accessed his skill list, hands shaking.

Essence Eater: Too loud, too flashy.

Tiny Tank: Already used.

Worker's Resilience: Too risky in this state.

He focused. "System... give me something. Anything."

[DING! Emergency Protocol Triggered – Aura Core Binding Protocol Available.

Effect: Seals aura for 24 hours. Temporarily boosts recovery rate.

Consequence: No skills can't be used. Only unique skills will be available. ]

Kai didn't hesitate. "Confirm."

A surge of heat flowed through his body.

His aura core tightened, sealed by glowing bands of system-stabilized light. His body trembled, but the pain lessened. His vision started to clear. He was breathing again.

Meanwhile, Something was happening outside his tree-trunk sanctuary. The Lurker, its body once limp in the Ravager's jaws, suddenly twitched. Its glow intensified, flooding the clearing in flickering light. It's aura flared, uncontrolled, wild, and terrifying.